Cliff Clinkscales

Clifford Clinkscales
Born	(1984-03-11) March 11, 1984 Jamaica, Queens, New York City, United States
Occupation(s)	Basketball player, coach
Years active	2008–2020 (player), 2021–present (coach)
Known for	NBL Canada record for career assists, head coach of KW Titans

Clifford Clinkscales (born March 11, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player and current coach, serving as the head coach for the KW Titans in the Basketball Super League. Playing primarily as a point guard, Clinkscales began his professional journey in 2008, spending two seasons competing in the NBA Development League (NBA D-League). The majority of his playing career unfolded in NBL Canada from 2013 through 2020, where he represented the Rainmen followed by the Hurricanes, the latter team succeeding the Rainmen after their dissolution. During his tenure with the Hurricanes, he established the NBL Canada record for career assists.

Raised in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, Clinkscales gained early prominence as a basketball talent. After completing his freshman year at Springfield Gardens High School, he transferred to Shores Christian Academy in Ocala, Florida, where he contributed to winning the National Association of Christian Athletes championship. Rated as a three-star recruit, he attracted attention from prominent college programs and played collegiate basketball for the DePaul Blue Demons between 2004 and 2008. As a freshman, he averaged 8.3 points per game and became only the fifth freshman in DePaul history to record 100 assists in a single season. Although his scoring output declined over time, he led NCAA Division I in assist-to-turnover ratio during his senior year.

Clinkscales was drafted by the Erie BayHawks in the 2008 NBA Development League Draft, where he spent most of his D-League career. Following a three-year hiatus and a stint with the Panama City Breeze in the American Basketball League, he embarked on his NBL Canada career. He earned recognition as an NBL Canada All-Star in 2014 and secured a league championship with the Halifax Hurricanes in 2016. After retiring in 2020, Clinkscales transitioned into coaching as an assistant in 2021 before being appointed head coach of the KW Titans for the 2022–23 season.

Early life

Cliff Clinkscales was born on March 11, 1984, and grew up in Jamaica, Queens alongside three siblings. Raised by his mother and a family friend named Clarence Washington—who introduced him to basketball—he also learned ball-handling skills from his sister Kima.

Before entering fifth grade in 1996, when he stood at 4 ft 8 in tall, Clinkscales was identified as a promising prospect at an ABCD Camp held in Teaneck, New Jersey, a showcase for college-level basketball talent.

High school career

Initially enrolled at Springfield Gardens High School in Queens, Clinkscales was unable to participate on the basketball team due to academic challenges. Seeking both academic improvement and athletic development under coach Allan Adams, he transferred to Shores Christian Academy located in Ocala, Florida.

At Shores Christian Academy, Clinkscales quickly became a standout performer. Notable achievements included scoring 24 points with eight assists to clinch a narrow one-point victory over Trinity Catholic and recording 31 points alongside 11 assists during a triple-overtime defeat against top-ranked Gainesville High School. In the Florida Christian Athletic League quarterfinals, he delivered an impressive performance with 40 points and 14 assists contributing to a commanding 100–32 win. His team captured the National Association of Christian Athletes championship after compiling a remarkable 36-win season, leading to Clinkscales being named Ocala Star-Banner boys' basketball player of the year.

Although Ocala’s competition level limited national exposure, Clinkscales gained further recognition competing with the Atlanta Celtics AAU squad alongside future NBA players such as Dwight Howard and Josh Smith. The Celtics’ triumph at the Adidas Big Time Tournament reignited interest from college recruiters. Entering college, Hoop Scoop ranked him as the nation’s 47th-best high school player. Both Rivals.com and 247Sports.com assigned him a three-star recruit rating.

College career

As Clinkscales approached his college years, he attracted interest from the University of Louisville, University of Florida, and University of Maryland. Although Florida State was his preferred choice and he made several unofficial visits there, the coaching staff did not extend an athletic scholarship offer initially due to his low test scores. After improving these scores, Clinkscales gained attention from Baylor University and his hometown's St. John's University.

On May 7, 2004, Clinkscales committed to the DePaul Blue Demons, highlighting the program’s imminent move to the Big East Conference and the opportunity to compete at Madison Square Garden as key factors. The urban setting of the university also played a significant role in his decision-making process. Head coach Dave Leitao lauded him as a genuine point guard who brought the necessary speed, athleticism, and agility to enhance the team.

Freshman

Clinkscales made his collegiate debut for DePaul on November 20, 2004, contributing one point and two assists in 14 minutes during a game against Bowling Green. Quickly endearing himself to fans, he earned the nickname "The Colonel." On December 6, he tallied seven points and led the team with 12 assists in a victory over IUPUI. Clinkscales characterized his approach as pass-oriented, often distributing the ball without directly looking at his teammates.

In his first career start on December 18—filling in for Drake Diener—he dished out 13 assists along with seven points and three steals to help secure a win against UIC. On January 2, 2005, stepping in for Sammy Mejía, he posted nine points, six assists, and a season-high four rebounds versus Old Dominion.

By season’s end, Clinkscales averaged 2.5 points, 3.4 assists, and 0.9 rebounds over 15 minutes per game. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.31 ranked third within Conference USA and was the best on his squad. Additionally, he became only the fifth freshman in DePaul history to accumulate over 100 assists during a single season.

Sophomore

During Clinkscales’ sophomore year, DePaul shifted from Conference USA to the Big East Conference and appointed Jerry Wainwright as head coach. He opened the season on November 19, 2005, against Bradley, scoring three points and leading the team with six assists despite committing five turnovers in a 60–75 loss. On December 31, he achieved a then-career-high of 11 points alongside four assists without turnovers against , including two three-pointers and five free throws—both personal bests that season. On January 21, 2006, he recorded a season-high six assists during a close defeat to , playing 38 minutes but attempting only four shots from the field. For that season, Clinkscales averaged 3.2 points, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 rebounds across 19.5 minutes per contest.

Junior

In his junior campaign, Clinkscales experienced reductions in playing time as well as in his scoring, assisting, and rebounding statistics. He saw just four minutes of action in DePaul’s opening loss to Bradley on November 11, 2006, without registering any stats. On November 17, during a victory over Eastern Illinois University, he notched a season-best three steals. His first points came on November 20 at the Maui Invitational Tournament when he contributed two points and three assists off the bench against Kentucky. In the subsequent matchup versus Chaminade, he recorded two steals along with a season-high 13 assists.

Coming off the bench again on December 16 against Rhode Island, Clinkscales scored six points—the highest for him that year—and matched this scoring output on December 29 against Northwestern State while adding nine assists in a game that ended with a commanding 30-point win powered by Sammy Mejía’s 40-point effort. Following an early exit at the 2007 National Invitation Tournament (NIT), Clinkscales’ season averages settled at roughly 12 minutes per game with outputs of 1.4 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 rebounds.

Senior

As he entered his final collegiate season, the Blue Demons faced a shortage of leadership and skill at the point guard position. Clinkscales took it upon himself to assume that responsibility, expressing, "I believe that’s my role. Whether I play 40 minutes or just two, I’m going to fulfill it." His development earned him more time on the court under coach Jerry Wainwright. The 2007–08 campaign began with Clinkscales coming off the bench for 21 minutes in a 12-point defeat against Creighton, where he contributed five points, two assists, and three steals.

By late December, due to injuries among teammates, he increasingly started games and saw extended minutes. On January 3, 2008, in a matchup with Villanova, Clinkscales achieved a season-high 12 points alongside eight assists and two turnovers during a career-long 39 minutes played. In the January 16 rematch with Villanova, despite a 69–76 loss, he posted a season-best 11 assists. On February 23 versus Seton Hall, he led the team with eight assists and two steals; then on March 2 against Notre Dame, he recorded eight assists and four rebounds.

Concluding his senior year, Clinkscales averaged 3.0 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists over 25.9 minutes per game while leading all NCAA Division I players with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.62.

College statistics

Source: RealGM

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05 | style="text-align:left;"| DePaul | 31 || 2 || 15.0 || .324 || .048 || .680 || 0.4 || 3.4 || .3 || .1 || 8.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06 | style="text-align:left;"| DePaul | 27 || 10 || 19.5 || .377 || .346 || .792 || 1.2 || 2.5 || .3 || .1 || 3.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07 | style="text-align:left;"| DePaul | 34 || 4 || 12.0 || .450 || .375 || .438 || 1.2 || 2.3 || .5 || .0 || 1.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08 | style="text-align:left;"| DePaul | 30 || 22 || 25.9 || .392 || .333 || .629 || 1.2 || 4.1 || .7 || .0 || 3.0 |-

2008–2009 season

On November 7, 2008, Clinkscales was chosen seventh in the ninth round of the 2008 NBA Development League Draft by the Erie BayHawks. He made his debut on November 28, contributing twelve points, four rebounds, and three assists in a loss to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. On December 11, he notched his first double-double with ten points and a team-leading eleven assists to secure a victory over the Iowa Energy. Subsequently, he set a personal best by distributing thirteen assists in a defeat against the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Over nine appearances with Erie, Clinkscales established himself as a dependable playmaker. After participating in forty-three games that season, he averaged 7.3 points per contest and ranked eleventh league-wide with an average of 5.3 assists.

On March 30, 2009, Clinkscales was acquired from the player pool by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, following the release of veteran Jeff Trepagnier to open roster space. Coach Clay Moser commended Clinkscales for his skill in breaking down defenses and generating scoring opportunities for teammates. Serving as backup point guard behind Jared Jordan, Clinkscales debuted with the Vipers on April 1 by logging twelve minutes and tallying three assists against the Utah Flash. He closed out the season strongly with a double-double performance of twelve points and ten assists versus the Austin Spurs. By the end of the campaign, his averages stood at 7.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game.

2009–2010 season

Following a short stint with the BayHawks and signing with the Vipers, Clinkscales appeared on the Vipers' training camp roster but was released during the preseason on November 17, 2009. He subsequently returned to the Erie BayHawks in mid-December. In his comeback game on December 19, he tallied nine points, seven assists, and four rebounds against the Iowa Energy. Later that month, he delivered 14 points along with a season-best 16 assists in another matchup versus Iowa. While his passing ability received praise, his jump shot drew criticism. Across 39 games, he averaged 5.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per contest, recording double-digit assists in six games.

2013–2014 season

In 2013, Clinkscales signed with the Panama City Breeze competing in the semi-professional American Basketball League (ABL). His time there was marked by financial difficulties within the league; players were compensated minimally—Clinkscales earned only $400—and numerous games were canceled. The team faced worsening living conditions when players were evicted from their duplex due to legal disputes involving the coach, with no assistance from the league. Support from the local community helped sustain them during these hardships.

In February 2014, Clinkscales joined the Halifax Rainmen of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL) for the remainder of that season. In his debut on February 11, he contributed six points, four rebounds, and nine assists. He achieved a season-high 22 points and 11 assists during a playoff victory over the Saint John Mill Rats on March 7. On March 9, he set an NBL Canada playoff record by dishing out 18 assists in a single game and amassed a total of 52 assists throughout a four-game series—the highest ever recorded in league postseason history. Facing the Island Storm in the following round, he accumulated 68 assists over six games, establishing another league record. He concluded the season averaging 11 points, 9.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game.

On April 20, 2014, Clinkscales represented the Atlantic Division at the NBL Canada All-Star Game held in Charlottetown. He led his squad with a game-high 15 assists while adding four points and two rebounds in a win against the Central Division.

2014–2015 season

On May 14, 2014, Clinkscales was designated as one of six protected players on the Rainmen roster, preventing other NBL Canada teams from recruiting him. He re-signed for the 2014–15 NBL Canada season on June 23. After head coach Craig Hodges departed, team management focused on retaining key players; owner Andre Levingston emphasized keeping Clinkscales on board.

The Rainmen began their campaign on November 7 with a narrow 113–117 defeat to the Moncton Miracles, where Clinkscales contributed nine points and eight assists. On November 23 against Moncton, he recorded a double-double off the bench with ten points and ten assists and followed that with a performance of 14 points and eight assists versus the Island Storm on November 29. His highest scoring output came on February 26, 2015, when he tallied 16 points against the Storm. During a postseason victory over Moncton on March 8, he posted a season-best of twelve assists.

The Rainmen advanced to face the Windsor Express in the 2015 NBL Canada Finals. In Game 1, despite early foul trouble with three fouls called against him, Clinkscales scored thirteen points. The series was characterized by intense physicality and verbal confrontations; after leveling at three games apiece, the Rainmen forfeited Game 7 following an altercation involving both teams. The league imposed fines of $5,000 each on Clinkscales and ten teammates for unsportsmanlike conduct and suspended them indefinitely pending investigation. Clinkscales later clarified his distinction between aggressive play and unsporting behavior.

Overall penalties amounted to $90,000 levied against players, coaches, and organizations involved. Subsequently, financial difficulties forced the Rainmen to cease operations due to bankruptcy concerns. Clinkscales ended that season averaging 6.6 points, 5.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

2015–2016 season

During the 2015–2016 campaign, the franchise formerly known as the Rainmen underwent a rebranding under new ownership, emerging as the Halifax Hurricanes. Levingston continued in his role as general manager, while Clinkscales returned to play alongside a largely revamped roster guided by head coach Hugo López. Over the course of the season, Clinkscales was appointed team captain.

In the Hurricanes' first regular season game on Boxing Day 2015, Clinkscales contributed 13 points in a victory over the Moncton Miracles. On January 23, 2016, he again reached double figures with ten points and led the team with seven assists against the Island Storm. Five days later, on January 28, he posted his initial double-double of the year, tallying 18 points and 10 assists despite a defeat to the Saint John Mill Rats. Another double-double followed on February 14 when he recorded ten points and ten assists along with a season-high four steals, helping Halifax secure a commanding 125–89 win over the Orangeville A's. Playing point guard on March 10, Clinkscales scored 18 points and dished out 10 assists as Halifax notched only their second victory of the season against the Mill Rats. He surpassed previous marks on March 18 by registering a season-high 16 assists and seven rebounds during an overtime triumph over the A's. The Hurricanes closed out the regular season with an outstanding league-leading record of 29–11 and advanced to compete in the NBL Canada Finals. On June 14, they captured the championship by defeating the London Lightning in a tightly contested seven-game series. In the deciding match, Clinkscales contributed nine points and led all players with nine assists, energizing fans at the Scotiabank Centre with his leadership. Reflecting on the achievement, he stated, "It feels great to get it with this group of guys." His season averages stood at 6.9 points, 8.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per contest. By mid-August 2016, Clinkscales announced plans not to return for the upcoming 2016–17 season as he contemplated moving into coaching.

2016–2017 season

Contrary to his earlier decision, Clinkscales rejoined the Hurricanes for the 2016–17 season on October 18, 2016, after being convinced by newly appointed head coach Kevin Keathley. He expressed excitement about resuming play in Halifax and striving to defend their title under Keathley’s leadership. However, before the season commenced, Mike Leslie replaced Keathley as head coach. In his first game back on December 26, Clinkscales contributed six points, five rebounds, and led his team with five assists in a victory over Moncton Miracles. On January 12, 2017, against Island Storm, he delivered an impressive performance with 13 assists despite not scoring any points himself. The Hurricanes advanced once again to the NBL Canada Finals but were defeated in six games by the London Lightning. Clinkscales earned All-NBL Canada Second Team recognition after finishing second in league assists with a total of 300 and leading all players with a 4.48 assist-to-turnover ratio; he also recorded eleven games with double-digit assists.

2017–2018 season

Returning to Halifax for another campaign aimed at securing the NBL Canada championship, Clinkscales praised the retention of key contributors on the roster. He singled out teammates such as Ta'Quan Zimmerman, Mike Poole, Antoine Mason, and Billy White as instrumental performers who created ample opportunities for his assists. On March 6 against the St. John's Edge, Clinkscales achieved a season-high scoring output of 20 points including six three-pointers. Over the course of the year, he registered double-digit assists in eleven contests and set a personal best with 15 assists during a loss to Saint John Riptide on January 18. Additionally, he recorded double-digit rebounds for the first time in his NBL Canada tenure by grabbing ten boards against Moncton Magic on February 25. The Hurricanes reached the NBL Canada Finals once more but fell to London Lightning in a decisive Game 7 where Clinkscales posted a double-double of 14 points and 14 assists.

2018–2019 season

The 2018–19 campaign was Clinkscales's last complete season as a player. Returning alongside teammates Poole and Tyrone Watson, he was one of three veterans on the roster, with Mike Leslie continuing his tenure as head coach. Clinkscales characterized his contribution as providing leadership and acting as an extension of the coaching team to help streamline the team's execution on the court. On December 19, he established a franchise record by delivering 18 assists in a single game against the Windsor Express. Nevertheless, his statistical output dipped to averages of 5.2 points and 6.3 assists per game—the lowest marks throughout his NBL Canada career. The Hurricanes concluded the season with the league’s second-best overall record but finished second in their division behind the Moncton Magic, who eliminated them in a decisive Game 7 during the Division Finals.

2019–2020 season

Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Mike Leslie was elevated to team president and general manager, with Ryan Marchand stepping into the head coaching position. On March 5, Clinkscales reached a personal best by scoring 27 points and surpassed his own franchise assist record by handing out 19 assists versus the Sudbury Five. A week afterward, the season was suspended and eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At that point, the Hurricanes held an 8–16 win-loss record. Clinkscales posted a career-high average of 10.1 assists per game, achieving double-digit assists in 13 out of 24 appearances, which earned him Third Team All-NBL Canada recognition. Before this season began, he had already claimed the title of all-time assist leader in NBL Canada history.

Coaching career

On December 24, 2021, Clinkscales accepted the role of assistant coach for the KW Titans in NBL Canada. He opted to retire from playing following the Hurricanes' announcement that they would not return after the pandemic-shortened 2019–20 campaign.

Professional statistics

Source: RealGM

D-League

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan=1| Erie BayHawks | 43 || 9 || 28.6 || .451 || .214 || .605 || 2.4 || 5.3 || 1.0 || .2 || 7.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan=1| Rio Grande Valley Vipers | 5 || 0 || 19.4 || .500 || .000 || .000 || 1.8 || 5.0 || .6 || .0 || 6.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan=1| Erie BayHawks | 39 || 14 || 20.9 || .424 || .111 || .676 || 1.6 || 5.1 || .5 || .1 || 5.1 |- |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:left;"| Career | style="text-align:left;"| | 87 || 23 || 24.6 || .444 || .174 || .628 || 2.0 || 5.2 || .8 || .2 || 6.3

NBL Canada

†	Indicates seasons when Clinkscales won championships

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan=1| Halifax Rainmen | 18 || 16 || 43.3 || .415 || .250 || .786 || 3.3 || 9.8 || 1.8 || .2 || 11.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan=1| Halifax Rainmen | 45 || 14 || 20.9 || .433 || .431 || .576 || 2.0 || 5.9 || 1.4 || .1 || 6.6 |- | style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| 2015–16† | style="text-align:left;" rowspan=1| Halifax Hurricanes | 53 || 43 || 29.4 || .422 || .354 || .704 || 2.6 || 8.0 || 1.4 || .3 || 6.9 |- | style="text-align:left; | 2016–17 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan=1| Halifax Hurricanes | 55|| 55||29.5|| .392|| .383|| .786||2.9||8.4||1.4|| .1||5.7 |- | style="text-align:left; | 2017–18 NBL Canada season | style="text-align:left;" rowspan=1 | Halifax Hurricanes |54||54||32.4|| .399|| .383|| .743||2.9||7.5||1.2|| .2||8.0 |- | style="text-align:left; | 2018–19 NBL Canada season | style="text-align:left;" rowspan=1 | Halifax Hurricanes |52||52||29.8|| .375|| .379|| .588||2.1||6.3||0.9|| .2||5.2 |- | style="text-align:left; | 2019–20 NBL Canada season | style="text-align:left;" rowspan=1 | Halifax Hurricanes |24||24||36.9|| .426|| .391|| .769||4.0|| 10.1||1.1||| 0.6|||7.4

Personal life

Clinkscales has been actively involved in streetball as the lead point guard for the Sean Bell All-Stars, a squad named in memory of an unarmed New Yorker fatally shot by police in 2006. This team secured the championship at the Trayvon Martin Invitational held in August 2013, where Clinkscales played alongside Tobias Harris. Their efforts helped raise more than $5,000 for the Trayvon Martin Foundation. The tournament drew notable NBA figures such as Kyrie Irving, Tyreke Evans, and future NBA commissioner Adam Silver. During the event, Clinkscales addressed issues of police violence, highlighting the significance of dedication both on the basketball court and in academic pursuits.

In 2015, Clinkscales once again represented the Sean Bell All-Stars at The Basketball Tournament, competing with teammates including Delroy James and Zamal Nixon under the direction of coach Raheem Wiggins. In a win against Team No Excuses that year, he contributed 11 points. In addition to his streetball career, Clinkscales has also taken on coaching responsibilities for youth basketball programs in South Jamaica, Queens.

External links

• Cliff Clinkscales at Eurobasket.com
• Cliff Clinkscales at RealGM